Preface, Plenary abstracts and the program of the RM50-seminar

This issue contains papers of lectures presented at the journal’s 50-years anniversary seminar, at Vaasa University on 24-25 August 2017. The objective of this conference is to stimulate and promote research and applications within the area of solid mechanics, fluid mechanics and mathematical problems related to mechanics and especially to strengthen the collaboration between industry and academia. This kind of a seminar provides an ideal forum for researchers, designers, teachers and other professionals to network, discuss and share ideas and information. Sincere thanks go to all of the authors and participants for making the meeting a stimulating occasion. This issue contains abstracts of the five invited plenary talks and 57 peer reviewed extended abstracts. As a total, 72 talks will be given at the conference. The five invited plenary speakers are Dr. Pauli Jumppanen, the founding editor of the journal, Professor Claes Johnson from The Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden, Professor Anders Klarbring, Linköping University, Sweden, Professor Aki Mikkola, Lappeenranta University of Technology and General Manager, Analysis, Hannu Tienhaara, Wärtsilä Finland Oy. Especially, thanks to all of our collaborators: Wärtsilä Finland Oy, ABB Oy, AGCO POWER, Avant Tecno Oy, Comsol Oy, EDR&Medeso, Federation of Finnish Learned Societies, FEMdata, Finnish Association of Civil Engineers RIL, Global Boiler Works Oy, Pressus Oy, Ramboll Finland Oy, Valmet Oyj and Vertex Systems Oy, whose support was indispensable for the organisation of this conference. Finally, we thank all the reviewers for their important anonymous contribution under a very strict time constraint. August 2017 Editor